Officer - Infection Prevention and Control

Job Description

Responsibilities

• Leadership Facilitating the infection control programme through expert advice in infection control practice for all stakeholders clinical and non-clinical.
• Collaborating with all departments on departmental policies related to infection control.
• Providing advice and facilitating the occupational health, laboratory and the environmental health and safety staff in the event of a blood borne pathogen and body fluid exposure incident or any other Infection Prevention and Control issue.
• Assists in risk and needs assessment for all departments around infection prevention and control issues.
• Playing a key role in infection prevention and control committee.
• Assisting line manager in related policy review or revision.
• Participating in product evaluation process related to the field of Infection Prevention & Control
• Assisting in the implementation of evidence based infection prevention and control strategies, led by line Manager and in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team that is effective and improves patient outcome.
• Making self-accessible for infection prevention and control consultation in all phases of the change process.
• Team and consensus building within and across stakeholder groups.
• Management of Clinical Practice Demonstrates knowledge of microbiological and epidemiological principles supporting the Infection control programme by ensuring strong collaboration with all staff.
• Helping staff the translate programme into practice.
• In absence of line Manager Communicating with SEHA and where required HAAD on reportable infectious diseases, endemic and epidemic situation in the community.
• Participates And Facilitates In Surveillance And Epidemiologic Investigation
• Assists with the design and implementation of surveillance systems according to latest NHSN definitions
• Collecting and reviewing, surveillance data with in line Manager
• Analyzing and interpret surveillance data under the supervision of line manager.
• Facilitates appropriate actions of clinicians and administrators based on Recommendations of Senior which are targeted to reduce or eliminate infectious risks in patients and staff.
• Performing active surveillance on device and procedure associated infections in the hospital and following up on epidemiological importance organisms/diseases as directed by Senior.
• Collection and compilation of surveillance data
• Perform Medical Record Review and use electronic surveillance systems, access to/use of electronic databases/electronic data warehouse (EDW), other related applications, algorithmic detection and reporting processes, clinical decision support, infection prevention within the electronic health record
• Assists in conducting outbreak investigations
• Conducting contact tracing related to exposure of patients to communicable diseases as directed by senior
• Preparing and maintaining confidentiality of all aspects of infection prevention and control surveillance data collection, storage and distribution

Facilitates The Identification Of Infectious Disease Processes

• Helps differentiate among colonization, infection, and contamination with in line Manager or appropriate colleagues for clinicians
• Assists with investigations to identify occurrences, reservoirs, incubation periods, periods of communicability, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, and susceptibility associated with the disease process
• Interpret results of diagnostic/lab reports under supervision
• Recognize limitations and advantages of types of tests used to diagnose infectious processes
• Recognize epidemiologically significant organisms for immediate review and investigation, highlighting them to senior
• Works with Senior to differentiate among prophylactic, empiric, and therapeutic uses of antimicrobials and Identify indications for microbiologic monitoring
• Identifies and implements infection prevention and control strategies according to specific topics:
• Hand hygiene
• Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization
• Specific direct and indirect care settings
• Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and devices
• Product/equipment recall procedures
• Use of isolation/barrier precautions when indicated
• Patient placement, transfer, discharge
• Environmental hazards
• Use of patient care products and medical equipment
• Patient immunization programs
• Construction and renovation
• Influx of patients with communicable diseases

Infection Prevention And Control

• Works in collaboration with multidisciplinary team under the oversight of the Senior to apply and use surveillance data and reports, advanced statistical methods and tools, including application of the standard infection ratio, risk assessment, hazard vulnerability analysis,
• Use and evaluation of emerging prevention practices for patient care, diagnostic methods,
• Participation in antimicrobial stewardship programs

Employee And Occupational Health

• Works with the multidisciplinary team under direction to provide counseling, and follow- up for preventing/controlling the transmission of infectious agents:
• Review infection prevention and control policies and procedures with Senior and with departments
• Promoting and implementing infection prevention and control guidelines/standards that improve patient outcome and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
• Collaborate with Seniors who work with public health agencies in planning community responses to biologic agents
• Investigating and studying trends in infection prevention and control practices, recommending changes or adjustments in existing practice for performance improvement.
• Assist with analysis and trending of occupational exposure incidents and information exchange between occupational health and infection prevention and control departments
• Conducting contact tracing related to exposure of employees to communicable diseases

Disaster Preparedness

• Response - Biological Assists with Disaster Preparedness and Biological Response Plan –including, but not limited to:
• Ensure personal protective equipment resources are available at all times
• Effectively utilize resources during an disaster (i.e isolation rooms)
• Identify dedicated units to accommodate known or suspected patients with bioterrorism-related disease, or emerging infectious disease
• Participate in conducting annual drills related to Disaster Preparedness and Biological Response
• Demonstrate effective reporting process for a biological disaster (communication with SEHA OCC, HAAD CDC, Police, etc.)
• Collaborate with regulatory bodies in planning response to biologic agents (eg. Influenza)
• Provide infectious disease disaster plan education and training to the staff, Identify staff roles and responsibilities in the implementation of disaster preparedness and biological response and the threat of a bio-hazard attack
• Undertake activities for early detection of an infectious disease disaster through active or passive surveillance.
• Reports immediately to senior any concerns data exposing.
• Helps facilitates any recommended strategies for handling potentially contagious individuals and implementing environmental controls to prevent or limit the emergence or spread of communicable diseases
• Knowledgeable about effective interventions that can be implemented when standard practices cannot be achieved during a disaster (when resources may be limited)
• Pandemic preparednes and response Facilitates the implementation of policies and procedures which promote consistent adherence to evidence-based infection control practices which minimize transmission of pandemic infection diseases
• Responsible assisting with the monitoring of pandemic alerts issued by HAAD CDC, MOH, WHO, etc.,

If A Pandemic Is Declared

• Faciltiate with the communication and implementation of necessary precautions applicable to the physical setting.
• Undertake process and/or outcome surveillance advised by senior and activities to identify infections that cause or have potential to cause an outbreak
• Assist with epidemiological investigation
• Implement routine practices and precautions to prevent the transmission of infection
• Syndromic Surveillance: Assist with the development of a communicable disease assessment plan to monitor individuals and staff
• Communication Maintaining confidentiality and security of patient, family, and organization information in accordance with the confidentiality policy
• Using information technology to access, transmit and produce information as necessary.
• Assist with producing infection prevention and control reports and surveillance monitoring in a timely manner (i.e., monthly) and ensuring the information is understood and available to relevant staff
• Liaising effectively with health care providers both internal and external to the organization.
• Liaising closely with medical and nursing staff in ensuring that all notifiable diseases are reported to HAAD.
• Performance Improvement/Risk Management Supporting a culture of performance improvement and participating in accreditation activities and quality improvement projects with a focus on reliability and sustainability
• Undertaking patient and environmental risk assessments and documenting corrective action to improve patient outcomes as required.
• Discussing these regularly with Senior
• Supporting in ongoing educational programs within the organization.
• Participating in the implementation of evidence based practice to promote clinical knowledge and a research based clinical practice environment.
• Particiapating in the monitoring and continuous surveillance of identified healthcare-associated infection clinical indicators, pertinent to the facility’s needs, using this data to prioritize the infection prevention and control program under the supervision of line manager
• Undertaking infection prevention and control audits and reviewing as required, providing these reports to senior and when necessary working with Senior on making recommendations to minimize risk and improve safety of patients, visitors or health care workers.
• Performing risk assessment and management in the organization for infection control issues.
• Demonstrating knowledge of current infection prevention and control strategies and organizational policies, and participating in product evaluation and cost containment projects as indicated
• Education Acting as an expert resource, engaging in health promotion activities in the organization and community.
• Conducting orientation, annual mandatory training and in-service infection prevention and control education programs for employees.
• Coordinating the infection prevention and control link practitioners (ICLP) and chairs ICLP monthly meetings, training infection prevention and control link preventionist.
• Participates in curriculum development, communication, and teaching strategies related to infection prevention and control.
• Particiapates in education about hygienic and community health measures (e.g., hand hygiene) to patients and their visitors.
• Providing education to contracted workers on evidence-based infection prevention and control precautions to be followed.
• Professional Responsibilities Identifying and utilizing various mechanisms to assist in development of professional role, utilizing internal educational resources and external agencies to assist with development.
• Developing and achieving annual performance criteria/goals in conjunction with the Line Manager.
• Attending and participating in the orientation and other hospital based programs as agreed with the Line Manager.
• Maintaining and updating own professional development through relevant educational activities, maintaining and updating a professional portfolio.
• Effectively and efficiently utilizing of human resources, consumables and equipment.
• Demonstrating knowledge of Policies/ Procedures/ Guidelines related to position
• General This job description is not definitive and following periodic review may be subject to change.
• The Infection Preventionist is expected to contribute to the wider corporate and organizational development needs as appropriate within scope of practice.
• The Infection Preventionist is expected to ensure compliance with the requirement of the Health and Safety regulations of the organization.
• Upholds the organizational customer service standards at all times.

Qualifications

Required

• NLT 2 years clinical experience in a clinical laboratory environment.
• Desired: Information technology skills.